LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor on Tuesday reported raising $1.22 million in the first three months of the year, trailing his Republican rival during the quarter while still boasting a larger war chest in his re-election bid.

Pryor's haul for the quarter that ended March 31 was edged out by the $1.35 million U.S. Rep. Tom Cotton reported raising during the same period. Pryor ended the quarter with more than $4.4 million in the bank, compared with $2.7 million Cotton had on hand.

The race is among the more closely watched and expensive Senate races in the country, with outside groups spending millions of dollars on television ads that have blanketed the state's airwaves. Pryor is the only Democrat in the state's congressional delegation, and Republicans have made major gains in the state over the last two election cycles.

Tuesday was the deadline for campaigns to file quarterly fundraising reports with the Federal Election Commission. Pryor was upbeat about his fundraising report.

"I'm encouraged. I continue to get good support around the state of Arkansas wherever I travel," Pryor said at a news conference at his campaign headquarters, where he accepted the endorsement of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.

Cotton announced his fundraising figures a day earlier, saying he believed it showed momentum for his campaign.

Pryor also spent more than Cotton during the quarter, reporting more than $1 million in disbursement. Cotton spent more than $868,000 during the same period.

Pryor has raised more than $7.4 million for his re-election bid. Cotton has raised more than $4.8 million since launching his bid in August.

Pryor was first elected to the Senate in 2002 and won re-election in 2008 without a Republican opponent. Cotton was elected to represent Arkansas' 4th Congressional District in 2012. Neither has an opponent in the May 20 primary.